In our busy lives, it can feel difficult to find time for family. However, research has found relationships between frequent family meals and mental health. A systematic review shows that, in adolescents, having family meals frequently is associated with lower rates of eating disorders, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, violence, and depressed feelings. Furthermore, having family […]
In time of stress and adversity, many of us seek comfort in food, which should not come as any surprise. Food is delicious, food is fun, and at times food even seems like everything. Although it’s completely acceptable to have a treat every now and then, turning food into a consistent solution to life’s […]
Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people worldwide, and is most pronounced by devastating symptoms of severe memory loss. Symptoms first appear at the age of 65, and two proteins, tau and amyloid beta, are attributed to the progression of the disease. However, the direct link of these proteins to memory losses still remains unclear. Tau […]
With final exams, term papers, and other deadlines steadily approaching, there is much to worry about for students these days. As if the stress of these events wasn’t enough, the worry for the stressors itself may also be harmful to one’s wellbeing. Many plague themselves with repetitive negative thoughts that may eventually bestow a feeling […]
It has been found that compared to the general population, people who have had a mental illness at some time of their lives are twice as likely to have had a stroke or heart disease. Despite this correlation, the higher risk of heart disease and stroke may not be caused by the mental illnesses themselves. […]
Urban forestry is emerging as a distinct practice in city planning and urban development. However urban forestry is not an entirely new field of research and the history and development of the practice can further the understanding of its current state. Urban forestry is most aptly defined by Miller (1997) as the “art, science, and […]
As students that live in a face paced environment, we can sometimes find ourselves in tiny episodes of side walk rage on the concrete steps of campus. We all experience this so called pedestrian aggressiveness syndrome, especially when the person in front of us is taking a lazy stroll while we are trying desperately to make […]
Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of health problems such as asthma, cancer, and chronic pain, but did you know that it may be associated with seasonal affective disorder as well? Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that usually occurs in the winter. The symptoms include sadness, anxiety, fatigue, […]
The Canadian Mental Health Act is currently undergoing a change to prevent unwarranted detentions of people with mental illness. This revision which has been decided by the Ontario Court of Appeal proposes that involuntary detentions can only last for a period of up to six months. This appeal does not affect many people, however it […]
In a recent study, the effectiveness of laughing gas (nitrous oxide) as a treatment for depression was tested. The study involved 20 patients with severe depression and was not responding to conventional treatment. The drug used for the test was half oxygen and half nitrous oxide. Two-thirds of the patients reported an improvement in depression […]